Stringent FAA medical guidelines, recipe for disaster
 

I just got my first-class medical and will be starting flight school in the fall. What I've noticed is that the FAA's strict rules seem extremely unreasonable and unfair. When were their guidelines written? Back in the 50's? Just from reading some threads in the forums and visiting the FAA's website, it seems that they're assuming all pilots are to go throughout life as a finely tuned machine. As you go through life, you better not run into any minor health problems. God forbid you may need to be medicated for any common ailment. It seems these sort of strict rules and guidelines will only cause trouble in the long run. Pilots will be hesitant to seek help for any ailment he or she may think wil have a negative affect on their career. This is the same line of narrow-minded thinking that culture that goes on in the military. I think this is a problem that needs to be addressed and fixed.

Go to the AME for your medical.

Go to a doctor for anything and everything else.

Dont really know what else to say other than you have a point.

I should probably take offense to this view of the entire military; but I have to go do my narrow-minded job now. Now - if you want a comment on the medical stuff - amen - agree.

USMCFLYR

If you think your FAA medical is unreasonable, try getting a medical for an overseas license. My Aussie medical takes about 2 hours and costs a small fortune.

I've had various experiences with FAA medicals; some were comprehensive and some a joke. My latest AME makes me jump up and down on one leg 16 times and sends me on my way after 10 minutes!

Sorry USMCFLYER, i ment no offense. What I was trying to take a stab at those who create policy in the military. I was exempt from the military because I had a tube placed in one of my ears, yet the FAA had no problems issuing me a first-class medical.

In other countries, the medical is WAY more thorough. Your family practitioner or internist can't do it for you. You need to see multiple specialists, then the AME collects the data and issues you the cert.

OK, I'm confused now. In your first post, you complain that the FAA medical standards are too strict. In your next post, you mention how easy it was to get a first class medical with your condition. :confused:

First off, military operations require more aerobatics, more G's, and faster pressure changes than civilian flying. On top of that, you are likely to go for extended periods with marginal rest and harsh living conditions, while operating at night and other hazardous conditions.

Also, the civilian medical only needs to certify you for 6-12 months. The military specs take into account that if they invest millions of dollars and years of training they need you to still be able to fly as a senior officer age 40and beyond. For this reason the military specs are even more rigid...to ensure that you have some room to age.

I assume you are reading part 67 where it lists all of the medical requirements? That stuff is meaningless...it's just legal-speak to cover the FAA's butt. The REAL detailed medical requirements are in FAA documents which pilots do not have access to.

But don't worry about it...the FAA is the easiest avaition medical in the world. Your ear tubes will not be a problem, although they may want some more documentation.

Yeah, Rickair they passed me and issued me a first-class medical. I was just blowing off steam, I was reading up on their rules, and most of them seemed unreasonable. It reminded me of some of the rediculous bias rules in the military.

As I tried to explain, the military has their rules for a reason...just because you don't know or understand those reasons doesn't mean they are invalid. The services don't want to limit their pool of recruits any more than necessary. It's too bad that your personal ambitions were sidelined, but the military's role is not to provide fullfillment to individuals, it is to defend the citizens.

My vision went slightly off 20/20 while in college, which kept me out of military flying. But I have had a lot of fun doing other things in the military...and my generation was pre-entitlement, so I felt lucky just to be doing the stuff I was doing.

If you are keen on military service, look into non-flying options...there are a few interesting jobs out there (most of which require high levels of fitness and motivation). Probably better job security than aviation anyway.